My HealthySELF: Danica Patrick’s Secret Food Weapon

You may have seen racecar driver Danica Patrick zipping around a NASCAR track or titillating the masses in her notorious ads for GoDaddy, but you might not realize that in the forefront of this bold babe's mind is a serious cause: raising awareness for COPD.

COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (the two kinds are emphysema and chronic bronchitis), a long-term, often fatal illness that makes it hard to breathe and for which there is no cure.

If you couldn't quite remember what it stands for, you're not alone.

"Most people don't know what COPD is, but it kills more people than breast cancer and diabetes combined and is the fourth leading cause of death in this country," Patrick says. "My grandma had COPD, and she passed away, so it's become important to me to raise awareness so that people will take action and be proactive with their health."

Patrick now works closely with DRIVE4COPD, an initiative to screen the millions of people who may be at risk for the disease.

"It's a progressive disease, so it's important to get the screening so you can maintain a lifestyle that allows you to do what you want," she says.

We quizzed 29-year-old Patrick about the healthy habits that let her live the life that she wants!

Danica Patrick holds a windmill, the symbol of DRIVE4COPD. (Photo courtesy of DRIVE4COPD.)

We’ve heard that racecar driving is more physical than people think. What do you do to stay in tip-top shape?

It definitely looks easy when you’re watching it on TV, but it’s different when you’re actually in the seat. My Indy car doesn’t have power steering! It’s really hard to turn the wheel, and you’re fighting against a lot of force, so it’s physically hard to drive. Plus, these races last so long that you’ve got to get plenty of cardio so you can stay focused and not be distracted by getting out of breath or feeling fatigued. I do cardio pretty much every day, and my cardio of choice is usually running. Then, during my season, which is February through November, I also do weights. I do a little yoga in the off-season.

What music do you like to listen to when you run?

I’ve stopped running with music. Oddly enough, I feel like the runs go faster! I think it’s because you start thinking about something, and your mind is so much more interesting than anything else. Time goes by really quickly.

What’s in your fridge?

Eggs. It’s very important for me to have them around. As long as I have eggs, I will survive — and if I have toast, too, I can survive forever! Whether my husband and I are at home or traveling and staying with friends or on the bus I stay in for races, there’s always like three 18-packs of eggs in the fridge. They’re just a good, clean, easy, fast food.

I don’t actually like lunch — I hate eating “lunch food” before 2 p.m. for some reason, if I’m at home. I usually just eat breakfast again, some yogurt or more eggs or a piece of toast. If I’m out doing errands or having lunch with my girlfriends, I’ll eat a sandwich or a salad.

What’s your biggest fitness challenge?

Just making time. I just travel so much, but I don’t really worry about it. I used to go crazy and get up super early before a flight so I could work out, but I just don’t do that anymore. You’re more likely to get sick if you’re so run down like that. Plus, I figure if you’re running around so much that you don’t have time to work out, you’re probably burning enough calories!

What’s your idea of a perfect night out?

A fancy, like, 10-course dinner with wine pairings and maybe two or three other couples, and just kind of eating and drinking all night. I’ve always been old for my age, so while it’s fun to go out with the girls sometimes to the bar, I’d really rather eat some wonderful food and drink some good wine and spend time with my friends really talking, not at a loud bar where you can’t hear each other.

What is your most urgent goal right now?

To win a race! It’s not easy, and there are a lot of good drivers out there, but my goal every weekend is to win.